CWSpalehoseCWS

I don't really see why anyone would be upset over this move. I kind of look at it as a "meh" move but it's not a handcuff by any means. The only real concern I have is whether or not Latos is a clubhouse cancer or if he'll butt heads with Cooper like Samardzija. It actually opens a few possibilities for the Sox mid season as well if/when this team is out of contention. If Latos has a decent year they can always trade him at the deadline for something and call up Johnson.

I think it depends entirely on the situation of why they are moving. If it really felt like they were just up and leaving and screwing over the fans here I don't know if I could still follow them. I sure as hell would not switch over to the Cubs. Probably the Brewers, Royals, or Cards if I had to pick.

I'm surprised the Sox haven't brought in someone for rotation depth yet. They've added Charlie Shirek this offseason. Make fun of the Penny signing all you want but at least he was a proven starter that made sense to keep stashed in Charlotte. If Beck and Turner are plans B and C if Johnson fails it's going to be a long year. Neither one of them has proven they can start at the MLB level. I don't even know who's still available that would be willing to take a minor league deal.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 07:53 PM) I'm sure we will see a tweet in next few days by Nightengale that says Sox are staying put. As for Puig, hell no. Too much of a clubhouse distraction Or Fowler wants 4 years, Sox won't go over 3 and moving on... Haha

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 05:38 PM) They can't keep Sanchez, C, Garcia, Sands, and Shuck. They keep 4 bench players and go with 12 pitchers. I didn't say anything about 5 bench players. Sanchez, Shuck, Sands, and Navarro. Are you referring to Leury? I doubt he makes the team due to his inability to hit. Edit: Plus I want to say that I am not advocating carrying both Shuck and Sands, just nearly saying it could be an option.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 12:17 PM) Eddy Alvarez is the man. He's the most positive, humbled player. He was friendly, gracious and funny. When he was asked anything about his accomplishments he immediately brought up his mom and dad or Carlos Castillo (old Sox relief pitcher). When he was in the Q&A and Anderson/Fulmer struggled with a question he would jump in and bail them out by complimenting them. He is one of the best pro athletes I've ever been around and I feel like I'm going to struggle evaluating him because I like him so much. I hope he keeps up the great play. I was sitting in on that seminar and I was impressed with his responses as well. I really hope he makes it to the majors at some capacity because you can tell he is a likable player.

QUOTE (flavum @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 03:54 PM) From the first time I heard Avila speak while he was with the Tigers, I said, "Future manager". I was lucky enough to hear a Hispanic radio show interview him at Soxfest while waiting in line (I was lucky enough they did it in English) and he gave a very good in depth interview. I was really impressed and I look forward to him on the team. I think he brings a lot to the locker room.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 12:08 PM) If the Sox signed Fowler, then maybe Shuck doesn't make the final roster, though I doubt it. Sands is on the outside looking in for an injury or something big happening. Sands is also out of options. Sometimes that carries a little merit when making decisions even though it shouldn't. I almost wonder if the Sox would carry both Shuck and Sands and drop Olt. Sands can play 1B if needed, and I am sure they will try to get Sanchez time at 3B to make him a super-sub. Might even allow for Melky and Avi to play some DH (although I have no clue Sands defensive ability).

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 08:47 PM) LaRoche and Danish for Ethier with the Sox taking on his entire salary. Do you guys think that would get a deal done? No. Why do the Dodgers want LaRoche when they have Gonzalez? LaRoche provides literally zero value to that team.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 05:08 PM) Hilarious. Despite the Sox stellar record the past few years, they have decided they cannot wait to see if they can develop these players while other teams can. Do you know what happens when a Marcus Semien is a starting caliber 2nd baseman? That's one player you don't need to trade for, OR you can use those prospects you traded for Lawrie to add a different player you want to cover the other positions of need. So you're using 1 player that so far has only shown the ability to hit to say the Sox aren't patient enough? You're acting like the Sox are pumping out all-star talent and and trading them for useless players. Semien has proven he can hit (ok) but couldn't field a damn beach ball at his position last year. Samardjiza on paper was a no-brainer and well worth the risk of giving up what appeared to be and still appears to be an average starting SS. And what future superstars did the Sox lose by acquiring Lawrie? Wendelkin screams middle relief pitcher if he's lucky and Erwin hasn't even pitched above Winston-Salem yet. I'll take Lawrie's potential any day of the week over those two guys whose chances to even make the majors are still extremely slim. The Sox have done a pretty decent job in the past year identifying certain players don't fit on the team because their talent level blows. They finally dropped Flowers and have a legit L/R platoon that (on paper) looks to be an improvement on offense. They cut ties with Gillespie, gave Olt a one month long shot chance to impress, and then sold high on Thompson acquiring an all-star 3B. And let's be honest - Thompson is a career .241 minor league hitter. He is not the next superstar OF'er. Sanchez looks like a super-sub backup infielder and cannot hit enough to warrant staying in the lineup. He gets replaced by Lawrie who's another significant upgrade. Saladino screams one-year stopgap until Anderson is ready. If anything - they've been very patient with Anderson's development in the minors and appear to be making the same stance with Fulmer. I don't see anything wrong with those moves. The Sox are incapable of producing all-star hitting talent and have been for the past decade. None of the trades they've made in the last year crippled the organization. Some of their past FA acquisitions have, but I would say that the coaching staff is just as responsible for those players failures as the players themselves.

Kind of surprised Kyle Hansen didn't get a mention. He had a decent year last year and seems like he has the potential to be a middle reliever in a pinch.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 01:13 PM) He played for one full year at age 24 and the team is already actively looking to upgrade. They played semien one full year and traded them. They played Sanchez one full year and upgraded over them. They traded Trayce Thompson. Micah was given 4 weeks and sent down and then traded. You bring up a good point. The Sox have been pretty consistent with replacing players after determining they don't have a future starting for the team. You could add in Flowers and Gillespie as additional players the Sox replaced.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 11:51 AM) Really? Seemed like a pretty good guy to me. Obviously intense, but didn't seem like a bad clubhouse guy at all. I don't think he was ever considered a bad clubhouse guy, but I did always get the impression that he had trouble following orders or making changes suggested by the coaching staff. His hustle was always there, but it was his hustle, if that makes any sense.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 09:54 PM) So hypothetically we were to actually trade for Ethier, how realistic is it for him to get 1,100 AB's in 2 years if we don't let him hit against lefties? That vesting option is scary, it would suck being in a stretch playoff run in '17 and having to worry about that $17.5M option vesting with too many AB's Unrealistic. Abreu has had 1169 to date. Unless The Sox are playing Either everyday (which I highly doubt is the case) Either would need to be slotted in the 3-4 spot in the lineup.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 08:13 PM) http://dodgersway.com/2016/02/01/dodgers-a...trade-interest/ http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/andre-e...ot-stove-020116 I'd be willing to give up a " decent reliever " for Ethier. Give them Webb. I think he fits the bill for "decent."

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 25, 2016 -> 12:26 PM) 1- The answer is both. There are booths of people selling things, though they are not located in the autograph lines so you would have to purchase ahead of time. Also be prepared for festival type pricing. Be prepared to get hit in the wallet. 2- They really don't allow time for pictures with players. They are up there signing a ton of autographs, and the security people really try to keep the lines moving along. You can get pictures of the player while they are signing, but they won't pause to pose with each person they sign for. 3- If you want a star player, get there very early. Like hours early. They limit the number of autographs for each player, and lines will form hours ahead of time for top dogs. I would also give up any ideas of moving from line to line getting a ton of autographs of players signing in different lines at the same time. The staff there do count the number of people in line, and will cut off the lines once they get to a certain point (whatever the limits are) so you will know WAY ahead of time if you make the cutoff or not. This is really all you need to know. I would add that you should come prepared with some items just in case. Last year the Sox had small stands set up in-between the autograph lines that will have photos of the player signing at that stage with balls, mini bats, etc. - however you will usually get slightly better prices buying from the vendors in the shop area. If you are only there for autographs, have a game plan. Going after Sale or Abreu is a bit of a task. - be prepared to wait a VERY long time because people will literally line up hours before the player is due to sign. *Most* people there are pretty cool, but you will into the occasional asshole looking to cut in line. Also, it's always one item per person but you can have players sign different items if you wish (they don't need to sign the same ball for example). Soxfest is a good time all-around and some of the seminars are really cool.

Look forward to this this every year, great read as always. Really hope the Sox give Coats a look in ST this year. He quietly put up a very solid year in Charlotte and I think he could be a decent 4th OF in the majors.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 10:25 AM) Not going to happen unless we grab a third catcher for the bench. Sox do have 3 catchers slotted for Charlotte in Hector Sanchez, Brantley, and Smith. Brantley is also out of options. Not saying that's what I think they will do, but it could be an option. Personally I don't like the idea at all of carrying 3 catchers. BTW, that was a really good read, eminor.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 05:40 PM) Cy: I think your posts are well thought out and logical but I did notice this statement from you, "Now, continually making the wrong choices is a good way for management to lose their job, but sticking to sound process is not." In a 'normal' organization you'd be correct. I submit however the Sox are not 'normal' everyone is well awhere of JR's loyalty factor. I mean six losing seasons in the last nine years is the worst stretch of sustained bad baseball for the franchise sine 1968-1980. Throw in dropping attendance in nine of the past 10 years from the season before and TV ratings dead last and you'd think changes would have been made long before this. But they haven't been. The Sox won't even fire a manager who has the worst winning percentage in franchise history for any manager who lasted four full seasons. What can you do? Loyalty appears to mean more than accountability in the front office and certainly on the field or else Dunn and LaRoche would have been cut a long time ago too to cite two examples of players. Just my opinion. Mark This is the one thing that is truly shocking. You mean to tell me NO ONE in that organization has maybe spoken up and said, "You know what? We need to get a manager that can coach these players and is able to get them to perform to the best of their abilities." I know managers get the short end of the stick all time and are more often than not treated as scapegoats, but you can't tell me with a straight face the Sox are bringing in the worst players year in and year out in all of baseball. Loot at the amount of players that fall flat on their faces and end well below their career numbers.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 05:42 PM) Kyle Glaser ‏@KyleAGlaser 5m5 minutes ago #Padres DFA'd OF Rymer Liriano to make room on roster for Ramirez. Liriano, once a top prospect, hit .292, 14 HR, 64 RBI in AAA last year Worth a claim or trade? I'd rather have him than Jerry Sands or Scott Hairston patrolling the OF in Charlotte.

Glad to see the Sox bring him back. Kind of surprised no other team out there wanted to bring him in. He finished strong last season.

He really needs to make up his damn mind and sign so I can stop wasting my time...

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:00 PM) To be fair, I am under the impression that RV is on a very short leash, and may be fired before the ASB if we are struggling. He should have been fire last year at the ASB. He's nothing but a lapdog for JR.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 08:34 PM) Upton to the Tigers, so you can cross one more team off the list. More depressing news.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 02:49 PM) I like Frazier's power, but not that OBP. And, I'm worried about the switch to the A.L. I have the same concerns. He looks like the ideal #5 hitter.